Mushfiq’s statement harmful for the image of Bagladesh cricket: BCB

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim’s statements about his decisions on winning the toss, and the team management telling him to field in the deep, has the BCB “concerned”, according to board president Nazmul Hassan.

While no decision had been taken on Mushfiqur’s future as Test captain, Hassan said the board would look into the matter after the Bangladesh team returned from the ongoing tour of South Africa.

“It is a matter of the country’s image when he [Mushfiqur] makes these statements on tour,” Hassan said. “The board is concerned with his statement because it is not consistent with the information we have. So it is important to find out from him what’s happening. We have to investigate the issue, but only after the series. We will sort out what’s bothering him. If there’s no way out and if we see that leaving the captaincy will be good for Mushfiqur, then we will decide accordingly.”

After the first day of the Bloemfontein Test, Mushfiqur said he wished he had not won the toss, alluding to how poorly his bowlers performed. “I think it was my mistake to win the toss,” he had said. “I have been trying to do everything honestly for the last 12 years. But in these last two games it seems it would have been better had I lost the toss. I think it is my personal failure. I am not able to motivate my players or guide my bowlers.”

Hassan said the team management – also comprising the coaching staff and manager – was there to provide the captain with specific plans and strategies, and he wanted to find out if Mushfiqur was having problems with anyone.

“I don’t think it is the captaincy but something else is bothering him. It could be the management, coach or even us. If we can figure it out, we will solve the problem,” Hassan said. “But let me ask you something: is it the management’s decision to field first in the second Test? Let us find out.

“There’s nothing to hide in this case of who took the decision. Management gives a plan. If they don’t give a plan, what’s the use of having coaching staff?”

Hassan described Mushfiqur as a quiet person who loses morale when he personally doesn’t perform, which leads to his teammates having to pick him up.

“Mushfiq is a little different than others, not in a negative sense. He doesn’t express himself much. The quiet types are hard to understand. And they end up saying unexpected things,” Hassan said. “For example, there isn’t a captain in the world who’d say it was wrong of me to win the toss. But he has said it. Is this a way to answer a question? It shows that he’s having some problem, but I knew it from before.

“He wants to perform all the time. If he doesn’t do well, he becomes disheartened in the field. His team-mates have to encourage him, and not the other way around. He becomes demoralised, goes into his shell. But he is one of our best batsmen. He has given a lot for the country.”